Buying guide

Introduction

Even in this age of LED TVs, most have not forgotten the LCD TV. If you think of the revolution in the domain of television, LCD TVs have had a lot to contribute. Even today, there are superb specimens in LCD TVs that don’t require you to spend more on LED TVs. Walk into any electronic showroom or browse the catalogue of any online store and you will still find an impressive collection of these TVs. While many say that you should try out different TVs personally before choosing one, it is possible to shop online when you know what to look for.

Choosing your LCD TV

Select screen size based on viewing distance

The screen size is the obvious first point that you will consider in LCD TVs. While larger is better, the largest TV may not be suitable for you. You have to consider the recommended distance from a TV to fully enjoy the features of your telly. For instance, if you are planning to buy an LCD TV between 20 and 27 inches, the recommended viewing distance is between 2.5 and 5 feet. For a 70 inch TV, the recommended distance is between 16 and 20 feet. So, first calculate the distance between the TV stand and your viewing position before choosing your TV.

Higher resolution means crystal clear pictures

The next point to consider is the resolution. If you are into the home theatre concept, then you need a resolution of at least 720p (and even this comes out a cropper when you intend to watch movies in a Blu-Ray player). The best experience is possible with a 1080p LCD TV. Thankfully, many of the LCD TVs available in the market come with 1080p resolution and you don’t need to dig deep into your pocket to buy one.

Look at lighting and contrast for better viewing

While it is not possible to focus on the lighting and the contrast when you shop online, it is not a bad idea to walk into a showroom and try out some of the LCD TVs on display.

LCD TVs can either have sidelighting or backlighting. In sidelighting, there are light panels around the edge of the screen and these provide uniform lighting all over the screen. In backlighting, the CCF or LED light panels are located behind the screen and these allow for adjustment in brightness in certain parts of the screen.

For contrast, it is best to consider LCD TVs that have a higher contrast ratio. These days you find TVs with contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and even more. But these TVs can be mightily expensive and you don’t need to spend so much. If you buy an LCD TV with a contrast ratio of 1,200:1, it is good enough for you. In any case, human eyes cannot differentiate between contrast ratios higher than 1,200:1.

Ample number of input and output channels

The number and types of input and output channels is also a point to consider. You would want to use your LCD TV for all forms of viewing and also for listening to audio. This means that you will need to connect your home theatre system with the TV and there should be appropriate input and output channels. You will also want to connect your laptop or handheld device with the TV and again need input and output channels. HDMI is an important point for you to consider here.

Shop around and see

While it is difficult to say which the best LCD TV is, there are some clear-cut winners in this domain. But just because one brand name is more famous doesn’t mean that they produce the best in LCD TVs. You should be prepared to be patient and check the various options before making your purchase.

Consider maintenance and cost of parts

Buying an LCD TV is simple but you should ensure that your experience later is not sour. Look for TVs where the manufacturers provide proper service and the availability and cost of parts is not massive!

Which LCD TVs for which use?

The Korean and the Japanese electronics companies are considered the best in the world and for a good reason. LG is one of the more famous companies for LCD TVs and their bestselling models include LG 55UF6800, LG 49UF6800, LG 43LF5400, LG 55EC9300 and LG 55LF6000.

Along with LG, Samsung is another Korean company that makes some of the highest selling LCD TVs in the world. In Canada, the bestselling Samsung LCD TVs include Samsung UN58H5202, Samsung UN65JU7500, Samsung UN65JS8500, Samsung UN65JS9000 and Samsung UN32J5205.

And of course, you cannot ignore Sony when it comes to electronics products. The most popular LCD TVs from Sony that people in Canada love include Sony XBR-43X830C, Sony KDL-50W800B, Sony KDL-40R550C, Sony KDL-55W800C 55" LED and Sony KDL-32R300B 32" 720p LED TV.

Another Japanese company that makes superb LCD TVs is Panasonic and their top models in Canada in online stores are Panasonic TC-32A410, Panasonic TC-58AX800 - LED TV - 58" (147.3 cm), Panasonic TC-60AS630, Panasonic TC-65CS560 and Panasonic TC-50CS560.